Listen—it’s the first step in social media. HHS is trying to understand the tools, what is being said, and how they can contribute to the conversation.

Develop meaningful relationships. Just like Andrew learned when working with farmers in the Peace Corps, personal connections are immensly valuable. Technology is simply a facilitator of those connections.

Personally, I think it’s important to note that all of Andrew’s interactions so far have been positive. We’ll see how the HHS team evolves and responds to adversity over time. As most of us already know, the social web can be an amazingly helpful, and sometimes unforgiving, place.

Regis Hadiaris is an award-winning Internet marketer and experienced leader known for unconventional ideas and impressive results. His blog, Dot Connector, is a popular destination for personal development.